Gazette Obituaries

STUART, Fla. — Ernest H. Jackson of Jensen Beach, formerly of Port Jervis, died July 12, 2013, at the Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart. He was 77.

Ernest Jackson

STUART, Fla. — Ernest H. Jackson of Jensen Beach, formerly of Port Jervis, died July 12, 2013, at the Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart. He was 77.

Son of the late Margaret Jackson and Ernest Jackson, he was born Nov. 14, 1935, in Port Washington.

A talented athlete, Ernest graduated in 1954 from Paul D. Schreiber High School in Port Washington, where he lettered and received numerous athletic awards in football, baseball and basketball. Prior to graduation, he was invited to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers but chose to pursue college football. Later in life, one of his greatest honors was being inducted into the Schreiber High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ernest received a full scholarship to play Division I football at Syracuse University under legendary coach Ben Schwartzwalder. One of Syracuse's all-time letter winners, Ernest was the starting fullback who played alongside future NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown in the 1957 Cotton Bowl Classic. He also played in the 1958 Orange Bowl and helped Syracuse win the coveted Lambert Trophy, which is awarded annually to the best college football team in the East.

Ernest was drafted by the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1959, but chose to move to Port Jervis to marry his college sweetheart, the late Beverly Murphy Jackson, and start a family.

Over the next 25 years, Ernest helped manage the family-run Murphy Buick dealership, and later owned and operated the Hayloft, a men's and women's clothing store, in downtown Port Jervis.

He always found time to give back to his community, sharing his love for the sport of football with his sons and other aspiring young players as a Pop Warner football coach. He was also an active member of the Port Jervis Elks Club and held the third degree in the Knights of Columbus.

He spent the last 30 years in Florida, where he worked for many years for Hartford Insurance and continued to provide community service through the Elks Club.

Ernest was an avid golfer, an avid football fan, and a wonderful role model to his family.

Ernest is survived by his devoted wife of 15 years, Barbara; three sons, Ernest and his wife, Deborah, of Milford, Pa., Glenn and his wife, Barbara, of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Kurt and his wife, Melissa, of Arizona; four loving grandchildren, Ashley, Cody, Troy and Cole; one sister, Margie; beloved Aunt Mimi and numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Beverly, and sister Janet.

Burial will be held privately in Forest Hills Cemetery in Palm City.

In honor of Ernest's love of football and coaching, the family has established the "Orange 36 — On One" Scholarship to provide opportunities for needy kids to participate in youth football. Memorial contributions can be made to the fund, which bears Ernie's Syracuse jersey number, at "Orange 36 — On One," Penn Star Bank, Account #7005370242, 214 W. Harford St., Milford, PA 18337.

Joseph Thomas Fedorick

CAHOONZIE — Joseph Fedorick, a 42-year area resident, died July 9 at his home in the hamlet of Cahoonzie, Town of Deerpark. He was 62.

Born March 16, 1951, in Nyack, Joseph was the son of the late Peter Fedorick and Helen Schmidt Fedorick of Saratoga Springs.

Joseph was the retired owner-operator of Fedorick Wood Floors.

In addition to his mother, Joe is survived by his wife, Linda Migliorato Fedorick, at home; his sons Jaime Fedorick and his wife, Becky, of Cahoonzie and Brian Fedorick of West Columbia, S.C.; his brother, Peter J. Fedorick Sr., and wife, Linda C. Fedorick, of Greenfield Center; two grandchildren, Aidan and Isabelle Fedorick; mother-in-law, Julia Migliorato; sisters-in-law Janice and Lesley Migliorato; and nieces and nephews Peter Jr., Christopher and Gregory Fedorick, Brooke Brooks and Meredith Migliorato.

Visitations will be held from 2-4 p.m. today at Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, 154 E. Main St., Port Jervis, and 4-8 p.m. at the Fedorick home, 800 Route 42, Cahoonzie.

SPARROWBUSH — Winifred H. Clark of Sparrowbush died July 9, 2013, at her home. She was 89.

She was born in Port Jervis Jan. 7, 1924, the daughter of the late Walter and Winifred R. Norwood Holzer.

Winifred worked as a secretary in the guidance office of the Port Jervis School District.

She was married first to Kenneth Aber and second to the late H. Earl Clark.

She is survived by her son, Kenneth Aber, and his wife, Vivian, of Westminster, Colo.; her two grandsons, Kenneth M. Aber of Oakland, Calif., and Ian S. Aber of Houston, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held July 15 at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Port Jervis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Port Jervis.

Carol W. Harris

PORT JERVIS — Carol W. Harris of Port Jervis died July 9, 2013, at Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis. She was 70.

She was born April 19, 1943, in North Bergen, N.J., and was the daughter of the late Winnie and Albert Leiser.

Carol was a retired care assistant for Catholic Charities in Jefferson Township, N.J., and was a former clerk at the Binghamton Motor Inn in Edgewater, N.J., where she worked for many years.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she loved her family and adored her grandchildren and great-grandson. Carol loved arts and crafts, and enjoyed bingo with her friends at Water's Edge senior housing complex.

Carol was a longtime member of Trinity Reformed Church in West New York, N.J., where she served as deacon, youth director and Boy Scout chairperson.

She is survived by her husband, William F. Harris, at home; her son, William A. Harris, and his wife, Victoria, of Sparrowbush; her daughter Lisa Moriarty and her husband, Arthur, of Milford, Pa.; her daughter Marcelle Haase and her husband, Robert, of Vernon, N.J.; three grandchildren, Bo Haase, Casie Haase and her fiance, Justin Pohan, and Brandon "Bam" Haase, and a great-grandson, James Anthony Haase, all of Vernon, N.J.; and many loving nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her pets, Abby and Birdie.

Carol was predeceased by her brother, Albert Leiser, and her sisters, Joan Landon and Dorothea Eisenring.

A memorial service will be announced by the family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her family in care of William F. Harris, 208 E. Main St., Apartment 19, Port Jervis, NY 12771.

Cremation will take place at MacLennan Hall Crematory, Milford, Pa.

Arrangements are by the Knight-Auchmoody Funeral Home, Port Jervis.

Russell W. Otto

RIO — Russell W. Otto of Rio, a longtime resident of the area, died July 8, 2013, at his home in the hamlet of Rio, Town of Deerpark. He was 88.

He was born June 12, 1925, in Brooklyn, the son of the late Gustav J. and Eleanor Westervelt Otto, and in his youth he spent summers at his grandfather's house at Silver Beach on Shelter Island.

He worked as an internal auditor for the New York Telephone Co. in Manhattan.

Russell married Linda M. Koenig June 28, 1969, in Rio.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

He was a Mason for 64 years and was a member of the Bay Ridge Minerva Lodge No. 758 of Free and Accepted Masons; American Legion Post 0001; the U.S. Marshals Posse, Southern District of New York; the Mounted Guard of New York; life member of the National Rifle Association; Tri-State Rod & Gun Club, Port Jervis; and Blooming Grove Rod & Gun Club, where he served as secretary.

A family statement read: "Russell was a beloved husband,

father, grandfather, brother and uncle who was fiercely loyal to family, friends and country. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and horseman. He will be very

sadly missed by all."

He is survived by his wife, Linda Otto, at home; his son, Mark Otto, and wife Leslie, of Wurtsboro; his daughter, Dawn Johns, and her husband, Allen, of Matamoras, Pa.; his brother, Warren Otto, and his wife, Marilyn, of Ocala, Fla.; six grandchildren, Cheyenne, Garrett, Aidan Otto and Morgan, Lauren and Abigail Johns; two sisters-in-law, Loretta Buchanan and Beth Emerson; one brother-in-law, Lawrence Koenig; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial was at the Rio Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Michael K. Purdon

WESTBROOKVILLE — Michael K. Purdon of Westbrookville, a longtime resident of the area, died July 16, 2013, at Orange Regional Medical Center, Town of Wallkill. He was 56.

He was born Sept. 25, 1956, in New York, the son of the late Michael Henry and Margaret Jackson Purdon.

Michael married Dianne Rivieccio Dec. 2, 1978, in the Bronx.

He worked for Yellow Freight in Maybrook and retired after 25 years of service. He later worked for more than 10 years as the maintenance technician for Huguenot Estates, in Huguenot, and New Twin Lakes Village in Bloomingburg.

Michael attended Holy Name R.C. Church, Otisville, and was a member of Teamsters Local 707.

He was an avid NASCAR fan who loved to follow Jimmie Johnson in the Sprint Cup Series.

A family statement read: "Michael was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend who will be greatly missed by all who loved him."

He is survived by his wife, Dianne Purdon, at home; son Michael Purdon Jr. and his fiancee, Kristin, of Port Jervis; daughter Tara Purdon of Cuddebackville; two brothers, Dennis Purdon of the Bronx, and Joseph Purdon and his wife, Dina, of the Bronx; sister Christine Crorkin and her husband, Patrick, of the Bronx; four grandchildren, Michael, Mia and Lucas Purdon and Alivia Grant; several nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Joan Rivieccio of the Bronx; two brothers-in-law, Steven Rivieccio and his wife, Katherine, of the Bronx, and Daniel Rivieccio and his wife, Deirdre, of the Bronx.

He was predeceased by his father-in-law, Silverio Rivieccio.

Funeral services will be held at noon today from Gray-Parker Funeral Home, 100 E. Main St., Port Jervis, with the Rev. Michael Palazzo officiating.

Cremation will be at MacLennan Hall Crematorium, Milford, Pa.

Funeral arrangements are by the Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Port Jervis.